The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was incorporated as a body corporate on 14 October 2003, but its core powers on anti-competitive conduct took effect only on which date?

20 May 2009. CCI's core powers, covering anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance, took effect only on 20 May 2009 — the date most treat as its real operational start. Read more: Polity0174 — CCI.

CCI investigates complaints through which of its own arms, before the Commission itself passes binding orders?

The Director General. CCI investigates complaints through its own Director General, an investigative arm, before the Commission passes binding orders. Read more: Polity0174 — CCI.

Under CCI's merger-review regime, a notified combination cannot close until it is cleared, or until how many days pass, whichever comes first?

150 days. The regime is mandatory and suspensory: the deal cannot close until CCI clears it, or a 150-day review period passes, whichever comes first. Read more: Polity0174 — CCI.

A CCI order can be appealed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) within how many days, with the final appeal going to which body?

60 days; the Supreme Court of India. A CCI order can be appealed to the NCLAT within 60 days. From there, the final appeal goes to the Supreme Court of India. Read more: Polity0174 — CCI.

CCI, under the Competition Act 2002, effectively replaced which older law and body, repealed on the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee?

The MRTP Act, 1969, and the MRTP Commission. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act, 1969, and its MRTP Commission, were repealed effective 1 September 2009, on the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee. Read more: Polity0174 — CCI.

In its 13 July 2026 order on HP India's Personal Systems cartel, roughly how much penalty did CCI impose on HP India itself?

Rs. 126.87 crore. CCI fined HP India Rs. 126.87 crore in the Personal Systems case, with five resellers fined a combined Rs. 1.22 crore. Read more: Polity0174 — Competition Commission of India (CCI).

How did CCI's two 13 July 2026 orders against HP India come about?

HP India itself filed a leniency application under Section 46. Both cases arose from a lesser-penalty (leniency) application that HP India itself had filed under Section 46 of the Competition Act. Read more: Polity0174 — Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The Committee recommended CCI treat what as an aggravating factor, when determining penalties?

Repeat violations. The Committee urged CCI to enforce penalties more strictly, treating repeat violations as an aggravating factor, to stop them being treated as a mere cost of doing business. Read more: Polity0174 — Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Before 2009, India policed monopolies with a law written in 1969, when the economy ran on licences and quotas. The Competition Commission of India replaced that whole approach. It now decides which corporate mergers can go ahead, and which cannot.

CCI at a glance: powers, composition, merger clock and appeals.

Established Competition Act, 2002; incorporated 14 Oct 2003.

Core powers Took effect 20 May 2009.

Merger clock 150 days.

Appeal NCLAT within 60 days, then Supreme Court.

Abuse of dominance: Using market size unfairly.

Cartel: Rivals fixing prices or bids together.

Section 27: CCI’s power to pass final orders and penalise.

Cease and desist: Order to stop, with no fine.

Contents

Chapter 1: Who and What CCI Is
Chapter 2: How CCI Works
Chapter 3: Replacing a 1969 Law
Chapter 4: Past Paper and the News

1Chapter 1: Who and What CCI Is

Must Know

Two dates

CCI was set up under the Competition Act, 2002. It was incorporated as a body corporate on 14 October 2003.
Its core powers took effect only on 20 May 2009. These cover anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance.
Most people treat 2009 as its real start.

The mandate

Eliminate practices that harm competition.
Promote and sustain competition in markets.
Protect consumer interests.
Ensure freedom of trade for market participants.
Being the biggest firm in a market is not illegal. Abuse of dominance is when that firm uses its size unfairly.
For example, it may dictate prices to smaller resellers or block rivals from the market.

Composition

CCI has a Chairperson and two to six other Members, all appointed by the Central Government.
Each holds office for five years and is not eligible for reappointment.
Members and the Chairperson need at least 15 years of experience in fields like economics, law, finance, commerce or industry.
It works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Remember: 2002 Act. 2003 incorporated. 2009 powers begin. Chair + 2–6 Members.

True or False: CCI’s core powers took effect in 2003.

2Chapter 2: How CCI Works

Good to Know

Three kinds of power

CCI’s powers are adjudicatory, regulatory and advisory.

Investigation and mergers

CCI investigates complaints through its own Director General, before the Commission passes binding orders.
Mergers, amalgamations and acquisitions above notified asset or turnover thresholds must be pre-notified to CCI.
The deal cannot close until CCI clears it, or a 150-day review period passes, whichever comes first.
The 150 days is a ceiling, not a target. CCI often clears simple mergers well before it.

Penalties and appeals

Under Section 27, CCI can pass final orders and impose penalties.
The trap: Section 27 does not always mean a fine. CCI can also order a bare “cease and desist” with no money penalty, when mitigating factors apply.
A CCI order can be appealed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) within 60 days.
From there, the final appeal goes to the Supreme Court.
Read more: NCLT and NCLAT: Company Law Tribunals and Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

True or False: A merger above the notified thresholds cannot close until CCI clears it, or 150 days pass.

True or False: Section 27 always means CCI must impose a money penalty.

3Chapter 3: Replacing a 1969 Law

Great to Know

From MRTP to CCI

CCI did not invent India’s competition oversight. It replaced an older system.
The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act, 1969 and its MRTP Commission were repealed from 1 September 2009.
The change followed the Raghavan Committee’s recommendations.
The MRTP law was built for a licence-and-quota economy.
Competition law under CCI suits an open, post-liberalisation economy. It looks at market dominance and merger control, not just capping a firm’s size.

One regulator among several

CCI sits alongside other economic regulators, not above them.
Read more: Regulatory Bodies Governing India’s Economy, SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India and TRAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Unlike TRAI, CCI has a cross-sector mandate, not a single-industry one.

True or False: The MRTP Act, 1969 was repealed from 1 September 2009 on the Raghavan Committee’s recommendations.

Think it through: Think it through: why is size alone not an offence?

A firm may grow big by being better or cheaper. That helps customers. The harm comes only when it uses size to squeeze resellers or shut out rivals.

4Chapter 4: Past Paper and the News

Exam Point of View

UPSC Mains 2023, GS Paper II

Candidates were asked to discuss CCI’s role in containing abuse of dominant position by multinational corporations, citing recent decisions.
The HP India orders below are a ready example. CCI used its Section 27 powers against dictated bid prices and manipulated tender participation.

HP India fined, 13 July 2026

CCI penalised HP India and several resellers in two related orders for cartelisation.
In the Personal Systems case, HP India was fined ₹126.87 crore. Five resellers were fined a combined ₹1.22 crore.
In the Supplies case (toner, cartridges and other consumables), HP India was fined ₹11.98 crore. Sixteen resellers were fined a combined ₹2.30 crore.
Both orders came under Section 27 of the Competition Act.
CCI found HP India dictated bid prices to resellers. It also manipulated GeM tender participation by withholding authorisation.
Both cases arose from a leniency application HP India itself filed under Section 46.
(Source: PIB.)

Parliament reviews CCI, 21 July 2026

The Rajya Sabha Committee on Subordinate Legislation, chaired by Milind Murli Deora, presented its 257th Report on four CCI regulations.
They were CCI’s 2024 Commitment, Settlement, Turnover and Penalty Guidelines regulations.
The Committee found CCI had recovered over 98% of realisable penalties: ₹2,039.36 crore of ₹2,078.87 crore due.
It urged stricter penalty enforcement, treating repeat violations as an aggravating factor.
It also called for better protection of MSMEs and startups from monopolistic practices by larger firms.
(Source: PIB.)

Debenture trustees told to stop, 2 September 2026

CCI ordered the Trustees’ Association of India, IDBI Trusteeship, Axis Trustee Services and SBI CAP Trustee Company to cease and desist from cartelisation.
They had collectively fixed the minimum fee for debenture trusteeship services in FY 2020–21 and 2021–22.
That violated Section 3(3)(a) and 3(3)(b) read with Section 3(1).
CCI imposed no money penalty, citing mitigating factors. Some officials were held individually liable under Section 48.
(Source: PIB, 3 September 2026.)

True or False: In the HP India Personal Systems case, CCI fined HP India ₹126.87 crore.

True or False: The debenture-trustee cartel was fined heavily by CCI in September 2026.

Quick Q&A

Act? Competition Act, 2002.
Powers began? 20 May 2009.
Merger clock? 150 days.
Appeal to? NCLAT, 60 days.
Replaced? MRTP Act, 1969.

Answered 0 of 6 checks.